SBIR/STTR Award attributes
This project will demonstrate a proof-of-concept Small Unmanned Aerial System (SUAS) equipped with chemical sensors for plume tracking and source detection in a realistic outdoor environment. The project will first develop designs for incorporating chemical sensors onto Group 1 fixed wing and quadcopter SUAS, then make SUAS-performance-enhancing improvements to the Molecular Property Spectrometer (MPS) sensor platform, and eventually solve the problem of how SUAS equipped with such sensors would perform plume tracking and source detection. The team will demonstrate plume detection capability and sensitivity levels through a set of carefully designed experiments and demonstrations. The program leverages the successes of Phase I efforts in the design of SUAS compatible CBRNE sensors and identifying novel algorithms for plume tracking and source detection. The assembled technical team of experts from NevadaNano and the University of Utah Robotics Center has a history of collaborating in the area of SUAS-compatible sensor design, development, and deployment to ensure successful project outcomes and deliverables.
